Door-operating device.



H. TURK. DOOR OPERATING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JAN-17.1917.

1,253,99 Patented Jan.15,1918.

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HEINRICH TIIRK, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE PORCELAIN ENAMEL AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

DOOR-UPERATING DEVICE.

Patented J an. 15, 1918.

Application filed January 17, 1917. Serial No. 142,884.

1 253 996 Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HEINRICH Tiiinr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Door-Operating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved device for operating the doors of furnaces and the like.

In the operation of enamel furnaces, it is common practice to have a lever immediately above the muffle furnace door, and attached to said door, an extra operator being required to manipulate the said lever, and thereby control the door, while another operator is employed in depositing the ware into the furnace. One of the objects of the invention is to improve upon the above described conditions, by providing means whereby the movements of the door may be controlled by the operator who is handling the material to be placed into or removed from the furnace, thereby avoiding the necessity of an additional man to operate the door. A further object is to provide means whereby the door may be held open while the operator is moving toward or away from the furnace, such means being so constructed that the operator may release the door at any time.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, the figure is a side elevation illustrating the invention.

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates a furnace of any desired design, conventionally illustrated, provided with a door 11, slidably mounted in suitable manner so as to normally close by gravity. Attached to the top of the door is a cable 12 passed over sheaves 13, and connected to a oounterweight 14.

Pivotally anchored to the floor of the room in which the furnace is located, as indicated at 15, is a running board 16, the pivotal connection being at one end of the board, the other end of the board being connected by a cable 17 with the door 11, said cable passing over sheaves 18. The door is counterbalanced partly by the weight of the running board, but is mainly counterbalanced by the weight 14. In order to provide for adjustment of the distance to which the door is to be opened, a turnbuckle 19, is provided, as shown. In the drawing, the operator is shown as in the act of stepping upon the running board, to insert the fork 21, mounted upon the track 22, into the fur nace.

In practice, when the operator desires to deposit the ware into the furnace, or to remove the ware therefrom, he will step on the running board 16, whereupon his weight, by depressing said running board, will open the door 11, by raising the same. If he is about to insert articles into the furnace, he continues to walk on the running board toward the furnace, thereby holding the door open, and allowing the fork 21 to be inserted. By walking backward and pulling out the fork, he retains the door in open position while withdrawing the fork from the furnace, and whenever he desires the door to be closed, it is only necessary for him to step off of the running board, whereupon the door will descend by its own weight.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention, and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, the following is claimed 1. The combination with an oven, a door therefor mounted to close by gravity, and a running-board pivoted at one end below the level of the door and having its free end connected with said door, of a manually operable charging device for the oven capable of movement parallel with the running board which is of a length to permit an operator to take several steps thereon.

2. The combination with an oven, a door therefor mounted to close by gravity, a running board pivoted at one end below the level of the door and having its free end connected with said door, and means for providing an adjustment between the running board and its connection with said door, of a manually operable charging device for the oven capable of movement parallevel of the door, a cable connecting the free a partial counterbalance for the Weight of 10 end of the running board With said door, the door.

and a counterweight counterbalancing a In testimony'vvhereof I have hereuntoset portion1 of thebiveigilit of tlC11e doorf oijcha my hand. manna y opera e c arglng ev1ce or e oven capable of movement With the running HEINRICH TURK' board, said running board being of a length Witnesses:

to permit an operator to take several steps EMMA C. Boson,

thereon, said running board also serving as E. J. W REVELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

